Telemed on Wheels

“The golden hour” is a term referring to the time-window a stroke victim has when treatment is most likely to be critical. To meet this time trial several hospitals are now using mobile stroke unit ambulances, which are equipped with a mobile CT scanner (e.g. from NeuroLogica, a Samsung subsidiary), several stroke-trained staff, and a telemedicine connection for consultation with a neurologist. Patients need to be within a 7-8 minute driving radius of the ambulance, but there are many situations from drug overdoses and heart attacks to gunshot wounds and preclampsia in rural areas where such a service would be life-saving. MORE